Thanks so much to those who attended the annual work day the Bandits do at the field. We had great participation as usual, and really appreciate all those who gave up some/all of their Saturday to get the baseball fields and facility up to par before this long run of practices and games happens. Having the work day is a very important thing for our teams, but it also helps the community keep up a great set of fields that have been part of many fantastic baseball plays over the last half century and change. Our kids get to re-live and play amongst local history every time they step on that field. There are countless men over 40 years old that can recall some of their most favorite days being spent down there. Very special thanks to Mr. Spargo who ran his tractor and boxscrape for hours on end and really helped speed up the process in re-doing that field #2 so we can get many teams on it for practice and play.

Our fields at Boat Club Road are very much representational of what we are as a group of teams. New people to our group learn this, and either accept it or move on - but we approach our baseball preparation the same way those baseball fields appear to the eye. We are traditional, plain on purpose, no nonsense, hard-working and anti-glitter. That may sound funny to many people. But, keeping in perspective what is most important in regard to what we are down there for (baseball) is part of the charm. We emphasize consistent hard work, making sure the boys learn to overcome small obstacles, understanding you are never the best and figuring out a way to get a little bit better with whatever you have, and prioritizing what is most important for that day's work.

Many of our parents, kids, coaches love to have material items with the name on it. That's great. It's really fun to be proud of something you are a part of, as long as we all keep in mind what we are part of is most important. That name, that symbol, and whatever else is related to it is meaningless without the important stuff being attempted, learned and accomplished. We constantly make sure to not lose site of that on our team, and we hope the organization as a whole "gets it". Wins and losses come and go - but our boys know how to play a certain brand of baseball because of what happens on that plain ole ballfield down there. Knowing how to play the right way matters. We try to take that lunch pail mentality to those nice fields we get to go play at on the weekends. There are no streamers or glitter guns around our practice fields. There may be some baseball sleeves, Phiten necklaces and sunglasses on hats when its raining seen every now and again by some players- but I sure hope that isn't the new normal. What should be understood is that the fields we practice on are interwoven into the fabric of how the Bandits approach baseball as a whole.

So, everyone's efforts that were present on our work day was very much appreciated. Even if it appeared to be "just moving dirt", or "picking up rocks" , etc. It means something, because that commitment is the backbone of how we approach our baseball work and season. You helped make the place ready for many months of practice and use. Hopefully everyone's season will be like our work day: fun, and satisfying, to sit back and see the work you've done....once you're finished. Some of our teams are just getting started. We hope they have a successful season at Boat Club Road....at practice....when nobody is really looking; because that is where it all starts. Thank you for being part of bettering your community, and the place where your kids spend so much time.

We will try to get as much into this Saturday on the work day as possible. We see the forecast and understand the threat of rain, but since we have become Seattle South we have to gamble by showing up and getting as much done as possible. For most of our teams in the program, they will be playing soon so our weekends become more scarce to get some of this work in. The facility will be coming to an end in the next two weeks, so it is time to transition full time to the outdoor elements and all the surprises that mother nature enjoys bringing to us when we try to practice or play. It reminds me of a cat bringing a dead bird to your doorstep; appreciative of the hustle, but maybe something we could've done without for a little while?

Anyway - the season is closing in on us, and with little outdoor time logged one gets the feeling we might be a little behind from previous years. Those were some great memories thinking back to when we were wearing shorts in January 2017, 2016. We will have some food down there to eat at the work day, and it usually is fun to help give back to the community that supports our teams as well.

Most of our teams have their uniforms and all needed supplies to be able to play. During these odd weather months from February to May, you play when you can. So, we are ready to play some, even if early targeted weekends for games get rained out. Thanks in advance for coming to the work day. We look forward to getting the season started here soon, and it appears the season is ready to see us as well because it's here. Play ball.

We have been practicing a couple times per week recently, and trying to get as much work in as possible due to the weather conditions that have surrounded us of late. Luckily we have the indoor facility to work on pitching, hitting, baserunning, etc. We can't wait to get outside, and will feel more comfortable when we are able to do just that.

We have signed up for all our tournaments this year, and look forward to sharing that schedule with our parents. We will keep the dates when we are playing a little close to our vest, so that we avoid as many of those late calls for schedule changes as possible that a couple teams like to do. We look forward to playing everyone, no matter who it is and trying our best....win or lose. It's easy to make a call to not play someone, or play a one-day and use up the same two pitchers every tournament. We are not trying to go 40-0. We won't go 40-0, or 35-5. That's reality.

Baseball is a very humbling game. No matter your perception - be it warped or accurate - of how you view our coaches and team, we deal daily with the realities that any team can win a baseball game at any age, at any time. We don't attempt to demand respect by asking for it; we do the exact opposite - we ask our boys to earn it through sacrifice, through fire. It sounds funny to talk about 10u sports this way, but whether anyone wants to say the truth aloud or not that is exactly what we are all involved in. The road of practice offers many valuable life lessons that help prepare the boys for these very public games where they experience both excitement and humiliation. It's not too much baseball if you are able to do it, WANT to do it and can actually do it.

The schedule we are signing up to play sets our team up to be embarrassed, challenged, excited, happy, sad, frustrated and surprised. It's OK. It would be real easy to go find the easiest tournaments, organizations, times, dates and teams to play to make sure a W/L record stands at a certain percentage. That isn't what we are about. I look forward to seeing how these boys compete at this new age group and level of play. Baseball gets harder every year, and it is always fun to see how each individual and the team as a whole responds to these new challenges they will face.

There will be five Belmont Bandits teams this year, spanning various age groups.

The original Belmont Bandits team is now at 10u, and last year we added an older Bandits group. They are back this year plus three more teams so we will have groups competing in the following Top Gun tournaments this year: 8u, 9u, two 10u teams, and 12u.

Many of these boys have been putting in some early work to prepare for the season, and it is evident who has thus far as we have begun team practices. Many thanks to our student and college volunteers who have been at the facility helping train our baseball players: Adam Andrew, Derek Perry, Nolan Wilson and Jordan Lathe all gave their time during the Christmas break to come work out a little, and pass along any tips that have worked for them throughout the years to our guys in pitching, hitting, catching and fielding. We will make sure to follow their careers with interest, and be their biggest fans at any games we can see them play over the next few years. It is a great thing to see young people 18-22 years old give their time to their community's youth. Seeing them work with our players was just a snapshot of their great character. There is no doubt these young men will do great things as they enter young adulthood.

We are in the early stages of the season, believe it or not; Head Coaches should be finalizing uniforms, schedules that work for the group and distributing practice times over the next week or two. We will have our individual team photo sessiond happening in the next month also. Having a plan and doing what you are supposed to do is part of our success on the field. There is always an excuse to be somewhere else, or not do the little extra things that give our players an advantage on the field. We are not a program of excuse makers or complainers. Mental and physical toughness should be a staple of what is taught at each practice. We are happy to have everyone on board, and hope our approach works for your player and family. Good luck to all our teams this year.

Welcome to the 2018 baseball season. It starts early, don't it? This will be the last week for individual lessons at the facility because we will look to make room for plenty of team practice time during some of this bad January and February weather.

We will look to get outside as much as possible when weather permits. We will have a work day down at the baseball fields in the next few weeks - more to come on that later. One other reminder: players can go get fitted for your uniform now. We put that order in quickly so we can get the uniforms back in time to have our team and indivudual photos done, and banner made for the year.

There have been many sponsors for a few of our teams pouring in of late - which is great news! Please remember to get all info to Stacy. We look forward to promoting, patronizing and recognizing those who have so generously donated to our program. We will be setting up payment for all Top Gun baseball games in the next two weeks, so the season is right around the corner.